Magnetic motor for an animated display device



May 22, 1956 A. E. REITZ MAGNETIC MOTOR FOR AN ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1954 FIG. 4.

FIG.

FIG. 3.

INVENTOR ARCHIE E. REITZ PEG. 5.

United States Patent 9 MAGNETIC MOTOR FOR AN ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Archie E. Reitz, Los Angeles, Calif. Application December 6, 1954, Serial No. 473,154

Claims. (Cl. 310-32) My present invention relates generally to magnetic motors useful primarily in animated advertising displays, and has particular reference to motors actuated by magnetic means and in which a movable member is caused to swing or oscillate.

It is an object of the invention to provide a magnetic motor of relatively simple construction and of minute power and low cost. The motor is of such construction that it may be energized by small dry cells of relatively long life because of the low current consumption required for intermittent energization of an actuating coil.

It is another object of the invention to provide a simplified switch in a device of this character, in which the contacts are long-lived and reliable as a result of selfcleaning engendered by a repeated rotative movement of a reciprocating circuit-closing member forming part of the switch.

I t is another object of the invention to provide a motor in which the movable or actuated element is self-starting and oscillates with a smooth and uniform swing sustained over a long period and at extremely low cost by actuatingelements that are almost completely concealed, so that mystery as to the operation of the device will be present and incite curiosity as to the means by which the device is actuated, thus adding to the value of the device as an advertising display.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a magnetic motor composed of readily procured, inexpensive parts capable of quick and economical assembly so that the device can be sold at low cost yet will render long and lasting service to the user.

I achieve these objectives, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation, with parts in section, of a magnetic motor constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 isa greatly enlarged vertical sectional view of the actuating coil and switch;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the housing;in, which the batteries, and electromot-orare contained, Showing the electrical connections betweenv the batteries and, motor;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through, a portion of the device showing the use, of a safety plug for keepng, t c rcu tr lo ng pin in its open. positi n i g handling, shipment or storage of the. device; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the housing, showing how the disk, carrying the safety plug, is applied.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a base member of substantial area and upon which the device stands during use and operation. The base 1 may be of box-like form having a closed top. 17 and being: either open or closed at: the bottom, as desired. Extending vertically upward from. the top. 17 of thebase' it is. a supporting post 2,74 7,1 14 Patented May 22, 1956 pendulum 4. For the purpose of illustration, the pendulum member 4 is shown in the form of an elongated strip, but when the motor is used in an animated display device the pendulum may be made in numerous ornamental shapes or forms according to the article or thing represented or advertised by the display. This strip or sheet 4 may be composed of cardboard or of other relatively inexpensive sheet material and may be ornamented or imprinted as desired.

The pivotal mounting or fulcrum for the upper end of the oscillating member or pendulum 4 may be of any suitable construction, enabling the member 4 to swing back and forth with a minimum of friction. For example, the upper end of the post or stanchion 3 might be provided with a notch 5 in which one or more downwardly projecting pins 6, secured at the back of the oscillating member 4, may rest.

Secured at the back of the oscillating member 4 and adjacent to its lower end is a bar magnet 7 of the permanent type, and this magnet, during the swing of the oscillating member or pendulum 4, is adapted to attract a pin 8 (Figure 2) constituting a circuit-closing member for a purpose to be presently disclosed.

Mounted within the base 1 is a housing or box 9 of which the part 17 forms the top, and the housing contains an electromagnetic coil 10 and one or more batteries 11 and 12 by which the coil is intermittently energized. As will be seen in Figure 3., in which two batteries are shown, the negative side of the battery 11 is connected to the positive pole of the battery 12 by the wire 13. One end 14 of the magnetic coil 10 is connected to the negative side of battery 12, while the opposite end 15 (Figure 2) of the coil 10 is connected to a simple eyelet 16 of non-magnetic material secured in the top wall 17 of the housing .9. The end 15 of the coil may be connected to the eyelet 1,6 simply by being engaged under the flange of the eyelet, as shown at 30 in Figure. 2.

It is to be noted that the eyelet 16 is located directly below the vertical axis of the bar magnet 7 on the oscillating member 4.

The magnet coil 10. is wound upon a spool 18 having a central opening 19 over which the eyelet 16 is located, and. situated directly below the eyelet 16 is a metallic sleeve 20 of non-magnetic material positioned within the central opening in the spool 18. For simplicity in construction, the sleeve, 20 may be a tubular rivet of known form around which a spacing Washer 21 of insulating material is tightly fitted and maintained thereon by frictional fit. The washer 21 centrally positions the sleeve 20 within the. passage 19 of the spool and locates it directly below the eyelet 16.

At its lower end, the sleeve 20 is provided with the upset flange 22. which is brought up against an insulatingdisk 23 held against the bottom of the spool. 18. A wire 24, having its end confined under the flange 22, extends. from. the positive pole 25 of the battery 11. Since the drain from the batteries 11 and 12. is very low, these batteries may be of the small flashlight type and will give relatively long service.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement within the sleeve 20 is the circuit-closing member in the form of the pin 8 of magnetizable metal. The pin 8 slides rather loosely in the sleeve 20, and is capable of slight tilting movement therein when in its elevated position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. At its upper end, the pin is provided with a head 26. In the form shown, the pin is a small bolt, used because of its easy procurement and economy, but a pin of other suitable shape will be equally effective. The threaded end shown on the pin or bolt 3 is functionl'ess as far as the present device is concerned.

The normal oropen position of the switch consisting of the elements 20 8' and 16 is that in which the pin 8 is lowered as shown in Figure 2, wherein the head 26 of the pin rests upon the upper end of the sleeve 20 and is thus positioned away from and free from contact with the eyelet 16. It is normally desirable to maintain the pin 8 in this lowered position, and particularly during the handling or shipment of the device since when the pin is in a raised position it is closing the circuit between the sleeve 20 and the eyelet 16 and causing the batteries to energize the coil 10. Therefore, to prevent inadvertent circuit-closing movement of the pin 8, a safety device is provided, which may consist of a simple sticker or disk 27 of paper, thin fabric or similar sheet material provided on its back face with a coating 28 of pressuresensitive adhesive, and also with a minute plug 29 of rubber or similar soft insulating material.

When the device is shipped or is to be handled or moved about, the disk 27 is first adhesively applied to the face of the top 17 of housing 9 and is centered over the eyelet 16 to cover the eyelet. The plug 29 will then extend downwardly through the eyelet 16, as shown in Figure 4, and will come into contact with the head 26 of the pin or bolt 8, thus holding the pin 8 down in its lowered position and free from contact with the eyelet 16. In this way, circuit between the batteries and the coil 10 will be held open and drain on the batteries avoided.

In preparing the device for use, the sticker or disk 27 is stripped off, which will cause the plug 29 to be pulled out of the eyelet 16. The plug is thereupon manually detached from the sticker 27, and the sticker or disk 27 may then be replaced over the eyelet, as in Figure 2, so that it will cover and conceal the eyelet 16. The device is then placed upon a suitable supporting surface and unless the bar magnet 7 is directly centered over the eyelet 16, the oscillating member 4 will at once begin to swing back and forth and will continue to do so as long as there is current in the batteries to continue to intermittently energize the coil 10. The operation of the elements of the structure by which the oscillation of the member 4 occurs is substantially as follows:

It will be noted that the bar magnet 7 is so positioned on the oscillating member or pendulum that one of its poles is directed downwardly. When magnet 7 swings toward the eyelet 16 (in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2), it will magnetically attract the pin 8 as it approaches the eyelet 16, thus drawing the pin 8 upwardly (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2) until the head 26 of the pin contacts with the eyelet 16. The loosenes s of fit of the pin 8 in the sleeve 20 causes the pin to be drawn upwardly at a slight angle, thus establishing positive contact between the pin and thesleeve 20, despite looseness of the pin in the sleeve, and the pin will, in such raised position, close circuit between the sleeve 20 and the eyelet 16 thus energizing the coil 10. The coil is so wound that the polarity of the magnetic force produced by the upper end of the energized coil 10 is the same as the polarity of the lower end of the magnet 7, so that when the coil 10 is energized, a repellent force is produced which exerts a thrust on the bar magnet 7 causing it to swing with some force toward the right, as viewed in Figure 2. As the magnet 7 is forced away from the position directly above the eyelet 16, its magnetic effect upon the pin 8 terminates and the pin 8 thereupon drops. to its lowered position. In such position, the head 26 of the pin is located away from the eyelet 16 and consequently the circuit between the eyelet 16 and the sleeve 20 is broken and the coil 10 de-energized.

The reciprocating movements of the loosely mounted pin 3 are such that they cause the pin to be rotated during these movements. As a result, the contacting points on the head 26 of the pin are repeatedly shifted and the head of the pin and the under-flange of the eyelet 16 are kept clean to assure steady, continuous operation of the device for a long period of usefulness.

When the oscillating member or pendulum 4 reaches the end of its swing toward the right, it will start its return swing toward the left. Again, as the bar magnet draws near the eyelet 16 it will draw the pin 8 upwardly to bring its head 26 into contact with the eyelet 16, closing contact between the eyelet 16 and the sleeve 20. Again the coil will be energized, and due to its magnetic polarity, it will tend to repel the magnet, thus swinging the oscillating member 4 toward the left, while the pin then drops down again to open the circuit to the coil.

The cycle of operations described is repeated over andover so that the oscillating member or pendulum 4 will swing back and forth with smooth and measured regularity, whereby it may provide for animation in an advertising or display device in a highly desirable manner.

The construction of the device is simple since the elements from which it is fabricated are easily obtainable. No soldered joints are required since the ends of the wires 15 and 24 can be simply clamped under the flanges of the eyelet 16 and sleeve 20 respectively. The rotative movement of the pin 8 as it reciprocates up and down in the sleeve 20 assures cleanliness on its contacting face and on the face of the eyelet .16, thus assuring long oper ating life for the device. The intermittent energization of the coil 10 for relatively short intervals is such that very light drain is imposed on the two batteries and as a result small dry cells of the flashlight type will be usable for very long periods of time.

While I have described only a single embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A magnetic motor comprising: an oscillating pendulum member carrying a bar magnet at its free end, an electromagnetic coil located below the pendulum member and directly below the path of swing of the pendulum member, said magnetic coil when energized producing a magnetic polarity the same as the polarity of the lower end of the bar magnet, a. guide tube located centrally of the coil, a magnetically-attracted circuit-closing element slidable in the guide tube, a contact member in the path of sliding movement of the circuit-closing element whereby said circuit-closing member will, when attracted by the bar magnet, close circuit between the guide member and contact member to thereby energize the magnetic coil and produce a repelling force by which the bar magnet will be forced away from the coil.

2. In a magnetic motor, an oscillating element carrying a permanent magnet at its free end, a magnetic coil located in the path of the passing magnetic field on one pole of the permanent magnet as said oscillating element is moved, a switch operative to energize the coil, said switch being operated by the passing magnetic field of the magnet, said switch consisting of contact elements mounted within the center of the coil, a slidable circuitclosing member movable between said contacts to close circuit between them when attracted by the passing field of the permanent magnet, said pole of the permanent magnet having a polarity the same as that of the magnetic force produced by the coil, whereby the magnet is caused to be repelled when the coil is energized.

3. In a magnetic motor, an oscillating element carrying a permanent magnet at its free end, a magnetic coil connected to a source of current, a switch for making and breaking circuit from the source of current to the coil, a pair of contacts forming a part of the switch, one of the contacts being tubular, a slidable pin movable through said tubular contact toward the other contact when attracted by magnetic force exerted by the magnet as said magnet moves its field toward the pin upon swinging movement of the oscillating member, the coil exerting a magnetic force of a polarity to cause repelling movement of the magnet when the coil is energized by the bridging of the contacts by the sliding pin.

4. In a magnetic motor, a magnetic coil, a sleeve constituting a contact member of a switch mounted within the center of the coil, a second contact member axially aligned with the sleeve, both contact members being composed of non-magnetizable material, a pin of magnetizable material slidable through the sleeve and movable to impinge against the second contact member, an oscillating member swingably mounted adjacent to the second contact member, said oscillating member carrying a permanent magnet having a pole directed toward the pin and adapted to attract the pin and cause the same to bridge the contacts when said magnet is swung past the pin, a circuit controlled by the switch for energizing the coil when the contact members are bridged by the pin, the coil exerting a magnetic force of a polarity the same as that of the polarity of the magnet that attracts the pin, whereby the magnet will be repelled by the magnetic force exerted by the coil and will be forced away from the pin.

5. In a magnetic motor, an oscillating member carrying a permanent magnet at its free end, a fixed magnetic coil positioned adjacent to the path of swing of the oscillating member, circuit contact members for controlling the energization of the coil, a slidable member movably mounted between the contacts and adapted to be attracted into circuit-closing position during passage of the magnet on its swing in either of two directions, one of the contact members being in the form of a sleeve through which said slidable member is movable and within which it is capable of tilting movement, said tilting of said member during the sliding movements thereof causing it to rotate and thereby shift the points of contact between it and said contact members during successive closings of said cireuit, the coil producing a magnetic field of a polarity the same as that of the adjacent pole of the permanent magnet whereby said magnetic field will repel the magnet when the coil is energized.

6. A magnetic motor as provided for in claim 5, wherein the slidable member is in the form of a headed pin in which the head is impinged against one of the contacts, whereby the rotations of said pin about its longitudinal axis when moved to circuit-closing position repeatedly vary the point of contact of the head of the pin with the contact member against which it impinges.

7. In a magnetic motor, a swinging member, a magnetic coil mounted below it, a permanent magnet at the free end of the swinging member, an eyelet located centrally of the coil, a sleeve axially aligned with the eyelet, a pin freely slidable through the sleeve toward and away from the eyelet and adapted to impinge against the eyelet when magnetically attracted by the permanent magnet during its swing above the eyelet, and means for energizing the coil, said means including an electric circuit controlled by the movements of the pin.

8. A magnetic motor as provided for in claim 7, wherein means is provided for retaining the pin in a position away from the eyelet, said means consisting of a plug insertable through the eyelet and contacting with one end of the pin to hold the latter against axial movement.

9. A magnetic motor as provided for in claim 7, wherein means is provided for retaining the pin in a position away from the eyelet, said means consisting of a plug insertable through the eyelet and contacting with one end of the pin to hold the latter against axial movement, and means for holding the plug positioned within the eyelet, said means consisting of a sticker attached to the plug and adhesively secured over the eyelet.

10. In a magnetic motor, a housing, a stanchion extending upwardly therefrom, a swinging member pivoted at an elevated part of the stanchion, the lower end of the member carrying a permanent magnet having a downwardly-directed pole, a magnetic coil mounted in the housing below the member, an electric circuit for providing a flow of current to the coil, a switch for controlling the flow of current to the coil, said switch including a tubular guide member of non-magnetic metal and a fixed contact member also of non-magnetic metal, a circuitclosing pin slidable through the guide member and adapted to make and break contact with the fixed contact member, said pin being magnetically attracted by the magnet as it swings past the pin to thereby cause the pin to strike the contact member and close circuit to thereby energize the coil, the coil when energized producing a magnetic field of polarity the same as that of the downwardly-directed pole of the permanent magnet, whereby the magnet will be repelled and caused to move its magnetic field away from the pin to thereby release the pin from the influence of the field and cause the pin to break contact with the contact member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,186,744 Wagenhals Jan. 9, 1940 2,583,741 Kiler Jan. 29, 1952 2,649,551 Yarrow Aug. 18, 1953 

